Modoc County Record – June 5 , 2003 Esther Helen Marsh Esther Helen Marsh died in Surprise Valley Hospital in Cedarville, CA. on Sunday, June 1, 2003 at age 96. Born May 28, 1907 in Eagleville, CA., Esther was a life-long resident of Surprise Valley. The daughter of the late John and Sarah Bailey, Esther graduated from Cedarville High School, worked in the Cedarville Bakery and married Delano Marsh. They lived east of Cedarville for many years before retiring and building a home in Cedarville. Although they had no children, Dolores Ferguson (of Cedarville) filled that empty space. Esther had one sister, Ellen Tandy and one brother Melven Bailey, who both preceded her death. Her niece Ellen Peckham died in 2001. Esther is survived by her nieces Annette Goncalves of Shingle Springs, CA., Marie Isom of Citrus Heights, CA., and Janice Walthers of Cedarville, CA. Her nephew Stephen Bailey lives in Sparks, NV Graveside services will be held at the Cedarville Cemetery today, Thursday, June 5 at 10:00 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Ben Zandstra will officiate. Roger Johnson Roger Johnson, 71, retired Refuge Manager for the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife at Tulelake, passed away unexpectedly at his Red Bluff, CA home on May 29, 2003. A memorial service for the dual resident of Alturas and Red Bluff, CA, will be held in Alturas on July 12. Arrangements are pending with Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers in Red Bluff. Memorials may be directed to the Modoc County Friends of the Library Building Fund, 320 W. Third St., Alturas, CA. 96101 or the Scleroderma Foundation, 12 Kent Way, Suite 101, Byfield, MA 01922 The Record will publish Mr. Johnson's obituary and photograph next week. June 12 , 2003 Roger D. Johnson Roger D. Johnson of Alturas, CA., passed away at his winter home in Red Bluff, CA. May 29, 2003 from the complications of scleroderma, at the age of 71. He courageously lengthened his time with his family by applying the latest medical advances. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service and celebration of his life on Saturday, July 12, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at the Federated Community Church, 307 E. First St., Alturas CA. A social time will follow the service. Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 25 years, Mary Miller Deck Johnson of Alturas, CA. He was born in Brooklyn, New York to Nelson F. and Evelyn Dobinson in 1931. He spent his childhood on the East Coast, but fell in love with the West when he visited relatives in Oregon, as a 16-year-old. Roger graduated from the University of Arizona with a Wildlife Management degree and began his refuge management career at the Cabaza Prieta Complex, Ajo, AZ. . He held wildlife management positions at the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge in Utah, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico; Albuquerque Regional Office; Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada; Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma; Washington D.C. Management Training; San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, CA; and his final position at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Tulelake, CA, where he served from, 1983 until he retired in 1993 after 35 years of government service as a GS 14. He and his wife, Mary owned and operated an antique and art gallery, Talent's & Company in Tulelake, CA, from 1990 to 1994. Roger volunteered his time and efforts in all the communities in which he lived. He was President of Cache Chamber of Commerce, Cache, OK. and the Tulelake Chamber of Commerce, Tulelake, CA. The Rotary Club was an important part of his life. He was a member at Fremont, CA, President of the Tulelake, CA. Rotary Club, and a member of the Sunshine Rotary Club in Alturas, CA. He was a Library Advisory Board Member for the Modoc County Library in Alturas, CA. He became an avid reader after his retirement and donated many hours of volunteer time at the Modoc County Library. He and Mary loved their work on their ranch, traveling, and entertained friends at the ranch, which is known for its abundant wildlife. Their home was open to all their friends and family. Special friends, Ed and Ruth Collins, Bob and June Fields and Jim and Linda Bryant, spent many happy hours at the Johnsons' ranch. Roger was married the last 25 years to Mary. He and his first wife, Sylvia Jaramillo, also were married 25 years. Survivors include his wife Mary of Alturas, CA; children and spouses Roger and Nancy Johnson, Winnemucca, NV.; David and Kaye Johnson, Great Falls, MT.; Michael and Debbie Johnson, Blackfoot, ID.; Anne and Matt Kruse, Mankato, MN.; Victoria and Scott Simmons, Hillsboro, OR.; Patricia and Mark Kreiter, White Salmon, WA.; Roger's youngest son, Mark Johnson of San Francisco, CA; stepsons Lonnie Deck, Fremont CA.; Martin and Merlinda Deck, Klamath Falls, OR.; and Chris and Traci Deck, San Diego, CA. His pride and joy of his life were his grandchildren Jerod Johnson; Travis and Kristen Johnson; Alyssa and Jay Sexton; Jenny and Mike Williams and great-grandsons Tristin Hunter and Quintin Mathew Williams; Jake Johnson; Calista, Leisl, Frances, John, Joseph and David Kruse, Nash B. Johnson; Adam Simmons; Sylvia and Alison Kreiter; and Rachel, Cazandra, Jade, Jacob, Bailey and Braden Deck. The family asked that donations be sent in lieu of flowers to the Modoc County Friends of the Library Building Fund, 212 W. Third St., Alturas, CA. 96101 or Scleroderma Foundation Research, 12 Kent Way, Suite 101, Byfield, MA. 01922. Chapel of the Flowers in Red Bluff, CA. was in charge of the private family viewing and cremation. The July 12 gathering will be followed by the spreading of Mr. Johnson's ashes at the family's Alturas area ranch. Eithel (Rossiter) Overacker Eithel Fidella (Rossiter) Overacker, 83, passed away after a lengthy illness in her sleep on June 7, 2003, in Stillwater, Oklahoma in the home of her son, Edgar Overacker. Eithel was born May 22, 1920 in Seiling, OK to Orlando and Bertha Rossiter. She married Ernest "Omer" Overacker on September 1, 1938 in Visalia, CA., and they enjoyed many years together. They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. Eithel loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with all her heart and she will surely be missed by all. She enjoyed reading, crocheting gardening, and being with her family. Her family will miss the little things that she did for them and her homemade egg noodles. Eithel is survived by her husband Omer, of 64 wonderful years, daughters: Frances Gray, Alturas, CA; Barbara Woodman, Eureka, CA; Mary Turner, Alturas, CA; sons: Harold Overacker, Alturas; Edgar Overacker, Stillwater, OK; and Lonnie Overacker, Nampa, ID.; one brother, Orlando E. (Ross) Rossiter, Eureka; 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and many friends. Eithel was preceded in death by a son Kenneth O. Overacker, a granddaughter, Cynthia A. Gray, six sisters, and four brothers. "We feel that Mom is in good hands and has lots of company which she dearly loved," say her daughters. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Bobby Gray II, Vincent Epker II, Christopher Turner, Robert Overacker, Nicholas Epker, and Mark Overacker her grandsons to carry her the last mile. Honorary Pall bearers, James Gray, Bobby Gray III and Vincent Epker III will lead the way. Brother Butch Crawley of Stillwater, OK. will officiate the service on Saturday, June 14, 2003 at the Church of the First Born, in Alturas at 11:00 a.m. My Fallen Angel, by youngest granddaughter Renee Woodman: In this world we live so short, In darkness and in Light. Sometimes misunderstood or misguided, touched and teased. But my fallen angel, my grandmother, was nothing but pleased. My grandmother, My shining star may be gone but I know will never be far. My grandmother always had a free heart, with kids and grand kids alike. She made me feel like I was smart. I could not ask for more. Except that my fallen angel rest in peace. A Granddaughter's Thanks by granddaughter Dawn Marie Woodman: Grandmother, I thank you for all that you have taught me, Letting me know that where I do come from is important. Grandmother, I thank you for sharing your hardships, So that I can appreciate my life today. Grandmother, I thank you for sharing unconditional love. For without your love there would be no family. Grandmother, I thank you for being in my life and for helping me to see life in all its glory. "In everything I do, I see you" In loving memory of Eithel F. Overacker. Jennifer Fratis Sugar Jennifer Fratis Sugar, 55, passed away in her Greenhaven home in Sacramento, CA, on May 26, 2003, after a six-month illness from melanoma. At the time of her death, she was under the care of her husband, John Sugar, sister-in-law June and the Kaiser Hospital Hospice staff, buoyed by visits from family and friends. The Sugars' two children are Michael who will start his senior year at UC, Riverside in the fall, and Sarah, who will be a junior at McClatchy High School in Sacramento in September. Other survivors are Jennifer's mother, Ruby Fratis, mother-in-law, Norine Sugar; brother-in-law Fred Sugar and wife June, all of Sacramento. Her father, Russell Neal of Visalia, and stepfather, Kenneth Fratis of Lemoore, preceded her in death. Jennifer was born September 20, 1947 in Hanford, CA. She attended Modoc High School from 1960 to 1964 and graduated from high school in Amarillo, Texas. She earned her BA degree at UCLA in English, summa cum laude in 1969. Shortly thereafter, she began her state government career, spending most of her tenure in the Department of Health Services. In addition to child rearing during a leave of absence from state service, she found time to publish a novel and serve as a volunteer on the Sacramento County Health Commission. During her long career, she held many analytical positions in the Medi-Cal program and in recent years was promoted into managerial, policy making posts where she served as special advisor to three division chiefs. With quiet competence, Jennifer always sought to improve internal government efficiency and responsiveness to the needs of all California consumers interacting with health systems, public or private Jennifer has been active in community affairs, and worked with both Unitarian Universalist churches and Faith Presbyterian Church as a volunteer. The support and encouragement she received from the congregation of Faith Presbyterian Church and other friends were most comforting to her. Accordingly, her memorial service will be held June 14 at 10 a.m. at that church at 625 Florin Road, Sacramento, CA, with an outdoor reception immediately following on the premises. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations in her memory be directed to Sacramento Public Library Foundation, 828 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.